Abstract
We have examined, using two methods of analysis, data on peripheral and central disorders from 1071 patients who underwent equilibrium function tests at the Dept. of Otorhinolaryngology at Osaka City University Hospital. First, we examined the statistical significance of differences between the two kinds of diseases in the results of each of 20 tests, usingX2. Nine tests were found to be statistically significant. They were, in order of increasing P, 1) the hearing test, 2) the, E. T. T., 3) the O. K. P. test, 4) the caloric test, 5) the test for positional nystagmus, 6) the test for positioning nystagmus, 7) the C. M. I., 8) the test for nystagmus by E. N. G., 9) the rotation test. However, this method of analysis does not, of course, indicate which test result corresponds to which kind of disorder. Also, it does not clearly indicate which tests are of greatest aid in diagnosis. We then used Chikio Hayashi's method of quantifying qualitative data. When the tests were arranged in order of their significance using this new method, two of the statistically significant tests were not found in the nine tests. Also, we could clearly distinguish which tests were of greatest value for diagnosis. The top three tests, were: 1) the caloric test, 2) the O. K. P. test, 3) the hearing test. Ease of diagnosis was aided by the finding that the cleavest indication of a peripheral disorder was the occurrence of CP in the caloric test. In diagnosing central disorders, the occurrence of normal hearing was found to be most significant. Results of analysis by Hayashi's method are to be used to develop an efficient screening method for diagnosing patients seen for the first time. As diagnosis using this method has a success rate of 73.9%, we are of the opinion that Hayashi's method should be utilized when making a clinical diagnosis.
